Puppy love

Actor Dino Morea has adopted two strays and now wants to buy a farm so he can offer more animals a home.

Dino Morea loves dogs and has two of them at home. One is a Dalmation, Patch, and the other, Slidey, a stray he picked up from the streets and adopted. "Patch has been with us for 10 years and Slidey eight. Rusky, another stray dog, has been sent to my parents in Bangalore," the actor says, adding that while pedigreed dogs are prone to illnesses such as tick fever, strays need to be taken to the vet only for shots.

When driving down Carter Road, Morea is pained to see dog walkers dragging St Bernards and Afghan Hounds down the road. "It’s cruel to keep big, furry dogs in small flats in hot Mumbai. They’re used to cooler climes and open spaces. You need to think twice before keeping a pet because once you do, it becomes family. There’s a joke that if your girlfriend is screaming at the back door and your dog barking at the front door, who will you let in first. The answer is the dog because once you let it in, it shuts up," he chuckles.

Morea rues the fact that he is unable to offer room to more dogs. He’s hoping to buy a farm to grow organic vegetables and let animals run free.

Debut home production Morea is also gearing up to announce his first home production. "My director wants to do it, so I can’t reveal the details. I’m not even sure if I’m a part of the cast because I’m in talks for another film that could go on the floors in February-March," he reveals. That’s the only offer he is considering, he says, adding he’ll only do a film if he’s assured of a good release.

So, currently he’s endorsing good brands and expanding his restaurant chain, Crepe Station Café, through franchises. “We want to open our bar, Elbo Room, in town and in Juhu. We’re looking at property,” he says.

Morea was recently seen in Khatron Ke Khiladi 3, where he lost the finals to Shabbir Ahluwalia. However, his prize, he says, was an addition to his kiddy fan base. Fear Factor is one of his favourite shows, the other is Amazing Race. He wants to produce a similar adventure treasure hunt based in India.

And what about his lady love, Nandita Mahtani? Immediately, he wants to race off: “Yes, I’m dating and very happy. Marriage? No idea when!”